Henry schunk



(No Model.)

' H SCHUNK.

ROWING GEAR FOR BOATS.

.No. 284.984. v Patented Sept. :11, 1888.

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a W 9 LL?) fidw Imus/awnv J 5. 7mm /T N. PETERS. PMln-Lilhnnnphsr.Washington. u cl UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SOHUNK, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, EMILLE RUFF, ANDCHARLES GHRISTMAN, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

ROWING-GEAR FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,984, datedSeptember 11, 1883.

Application filed May 14, 1883, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SonUNK, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuqneand State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gearingfor Row-Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in propelling row-boats, and moreparticularly to that class of rowing apparatus in which the oarsman ispermitted to face the bow of the boat while the boat is moving in thesame direction.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the apparatus,fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 isa view of the drums and chains. Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the boltsupon which the drum moves. Fig.

" 4 shows the locking device for the oscillating frame, which permitsthe oars to rise and fall. Fig. 5 is a view of the plate by which thedevice is connected to the gunwale, and of the bearings for theoscillating frame.

An attachment like that represented in Fig. 1 is to be placed upon eachside of the gunwale of a boat rowing two cars, and a similar attachmentfor each additional oar.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents a socket to recive the handle A of theoar. The socket A is cast in one piece with the drum 0, the latter beingformed with a central perforated boss, a, and perforated peripheral lugsE F. The drum is cast with a bottom plate to give.

it proper stiffness; but the plate may be per--.

forated, if desired, for lightness. D is a similar drum, which has castwith it a corresponding socket, B, for the oar-blade B. These drums arepivoted opposite each other, and nearly in contact, upon an ellipticalframe. X, which is secured to the gunwale of the boat, its major axesextending in the same general direction as the gunwale. This frameconsists of upper and lower rims, x m, and a sufficient number ofbraces, :1 connecting them. The rims upon opposite sides are providedwith registering-perforations, and between these rims are pivoted thedrums G D by bolts G passing through such perforations and the centralboss, a, of the drums, and held in place by a nut, L, at the top, and apin, h, Fig. 3, at

the bottom. The drums are thus free to turn within the frame.

The movement imparted to the drum O by the oarsman is communicated tothe drum D and the oar-blade by the chains Q, Q. These chains areadjustably connected to the drums O D by screw-bolts c, which passthrough the lugs E F on the drums, and are secured by a threaded nut,and, in addition, by the j am-nuts (2. Should the chain ever becomeslack, therefore, it can be taken up by simply moving the bolt fartherinto the lug. The chains pass partly around the periphery of therespective drums, crossing between them in such a manner that themovement of drum 0 in one direction will draw on chain Q and move drum Din the reverse direction, the result being that if the oar is pulledtoward the oarsman the blade moves through the water in the samedirection, driving the boat ahead.

In order to permitthe oar to be lifted from the water, it is necessaryto give an oscillating or rocking motion to the frame X, and the de--vices for accomplishing this and locking the frame to the gunwale areshown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Y is an iron plate rigidly secured to the gunwale. Upon this plate arestandards having formed with them bearings N N and off sets P P.

Round journals M M and depending studs 0 O are attached to or formedwith the frame X, the journals fitting in the bearings N N, while thestuds 0 0 project under the offsets P P and lock the frame in place. Thebottom of the offset P is of circular form, like the bearing, and thestud Omoves freely upon the curved surface as the frame rocks. A

The devices may of course be applied to any form of row-boat.

Having described my invention, I claim- The combination, with the plateY, having bearings N and curved offset P, of the frame X, havingjournals M and studs 0, substantially for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribingwitnesses.

. HENRY SCHUNK. WVitnesses:

ALEX SIMrLo'r, FRANK H. WEIHL.

